Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, popularly known as Jenifa, has confirmed her nomination as the deputy gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Akindele, in a video posted on Tuesday via her Instagram page, disclosed that she would be putting a hold on her career as an actress and will venture into politics to cause a change to improve the welfare of Lagosians.

She asked that youths rally around her and governorship candidate, Dr Olajide Adediran known as Jendor to achieve a better Lagos

“I am a Lagosian born out of Ikorodu so when the PDP gubernatorial candidate asked me to be his deputy governor I saw it as an opportunity to help liberate and improve the welfare of our people, particularly the deprived youth, women, and girl child.

“My decision is not only to accept this huge responsibility to see our dear Lagos live up to its full potential with the people as its immediate beneficiaries.

“Over the years a lot of youths have been ignored victimized for daring to have a dream so I use this opportunity to call out all well-meaning residents of the nation, especially the youths. It’s indeed time to use our numerical strength to our full advantage and time to rally ourselves and support our own.

“I’m not unaware of the cost of this assignment on my vibrant career which I must now necessarily put on hold it’s a huge personal sacrifice but my resolve is no sacrifice is too much for the actualization of the urgent mission to rescue our people and dear state.

“It is a call I take with reverence and utmost sense of responsibility. Indeed, we can achieve a Lagos for all our residents”.
Funke Akindele

Meanwhile, when she said her name at the end of the video, the Ikorodu-born indigene of Lagos didn’t include her husband’s name, Bello.

This comes two weeks after her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, announced that they have gone their separate ways.

Bello, who confirmed the separation in an Instagram post on July 1, said things had not been going well between him and the actress in the last two years, adding that all efforts expended on reconciling their differences had proved abortive.

The actress, however, has remained silent on her separation from her husband as she is yet to address Bello’s claims.

Nigerians react

Nigerians have been reacting to the nomination of Funke Akindele as running mate for the Lagos State Governorship candidate PDP, Olajide Adediran.

The unveiling of the actress’s nomination sparked mixed reactions on social media, particularly on twitter, with some of the fans describing the nomination of Akindele as an indication of the death of PDP in Lagos State.

While many believe Akindele wanted to be used to gather votes, some other Nigerians have challenged her capacity, her behaviour and political antecedents.

A Twitter user, who identifies as @OmobaFere stated, “PDP in Lagos is ded (dead)! Lol it’s just an arm of APC . Cos how is Jenifa your deputy governor candidate?”

@oroksmoney said, “You are not even the future Governor of Lagos state. You wey don go chop rice for jenifa’s house during lockdown.. abi this daddy think say Naija no get memory ni? You wey suppose use giveaway take apologies to us.”

@unadoncraze said, “Maybe if Funke Akindele becomes deputy governor of Lagos state, jenifa diaries will finally end.”